Valve structure



Allg. 28, 1955 A. B. CAMPBELL 2,760,752

VALVE STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 28, 1955 i give-757W# /53 /QZWZ 6X5 V E WW /5 Vfl/.m91 f5 VALVE STRUCTURE Albert B. Campbell, Bensenville, Ill., assignor to Campbell Products Co., a corporation of Illinois Application August 28, 1953, Serial No. 377,048

7 Claims. (Cl. 251-144) This invention relates to a valve structure, and more particularly to a valve for a lather producing machine, such machines commonly being used in barbershops.

The improved valve constituting the present invention is for use with the lather producing machines disclosed in my prior Patents 2,191,450, granted February 27, 1940, 2,323,377, granted July 6, 1943, and 2,495,441, granted January 24, 1950, all for Lather Producing Machines. l

One of the primary diliculties in the operating of currently used lather producing machines is the tendency of the valve regulating the flow of liquid soap into the lathering chamber to become clogged with dried soap. An accumulation of dried soap in and about the moving parts of the valve prevents the valve from operating at all. Because of the almost constant use of these machines in places like barbershops, accumulations of dried soap in the valve mechanism build up rapidly, necessitating frequent cleaningof the valve l.with consequent loss of time and use of the machine. t

By means of the present invention it is possible to States Patent O provide a self-cleaning valve so as to eliminate the need v for frequent cleaning. The present invention provides a valve mechanism with sufficient unused space in and about the working parts so that inltration of liquid soap beyond the self-cleaning structure will not cause immediate inoperativeness of the valve.

The valve constituting this invention is removably mounted in a lather producing machine which has a liquid soap receptacle, a lather producing chamber and a passage between them. The most convenient place for mounting the valve is in the liquid soap receptacle, with the passageway being formed to provide a valve seat. The closure portion of the valve will yieldingly bear against the seat, consequently the valve stem associated with the closure portion will be in contact with liquid soap. Essentially, the valve constituting my invention includes` a valve seat, a valve closure element, a stern element, a spring associated with the stem element for urging the closure element against the seat, a lever for opposing the spring so that the valve closure element may be unseated, and astem guide member. The valve stemelement is slidably received into the stem guide member, the stem guide member being removably mounted in the liquid soap receptacle. The sliding motion of the valve stern element into the stem guide member produces a wiping action which keeps the portion of the lvalve stem element inside the stem guide member substantially free of soap. f f.

The invention will be described as related to the panying drawings in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of applicants invention assembled in a lather producing machine; v

' Fig.' 2 is a sectional View centrally through the valve structure showing one particular form ofthe invention; 'Fig. 3 is a `sectional view taken along the line 3-'3 0f Fig. 2; and, K

aCCOm- ICC Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

An embodiment of the invention is assembled in a lather producing machine, generally designated 10. The lather producing machine 1@ comprises a housing 11, a liquid soap receptacle 12, a lather producing chamber 13 with outlet 14, a passageway 15 between the liquid soap receptacle 12 and the lather producing chamber 13, a valve structure generally designated 16, and a motor 17 for operating a lather producing screw (not shown) in lather producing chamber 13.

The details of construction of the valve may best be seen in the enlarged views, Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 2, the valve 16 is removably mounted in liquid soap receptacle 12. Sleeveelike stem guide member 18 is inserted in circular opening 19 in the housing 11, being supported on housing 11 by top flanges 20 and 21. In the preferred form, stem guide member 18 is a plastic tube having a wide portion 22 and a constricted portion 23, the wide and narrow portions being connected by transverse annular shoulder 24.` A plurality of longitudinal ribs 25, integral and substantially coextensive with the wider portion 22, are provided in stem guide member 18.

Tubular valve stem element 26, having a wide portion 27 and a constricted portion 28 connected by transverse shoulder 29, is slidably received into stem guide member 18. Thus, the stem guide member 18 acts like a sleeve or casing for the stem element 26, with the constricted portion 23 of the valve stem element being slidably received inthe constricted portion 23 of the stem guide element 26 and the wider portion 27 of the stem element being slidably received in the ribbed or wider portion 22 of the stem guide member 18. In the preferred embodiment, stem guide member 18 and valve stem element 26 are cylindrical, the outside diameter of the wider portion 27 of valve stem element 26 and the internal diameter of the wider portion 22 of stem guide member 26 diifering by the thickness of the longitudinal ribs 25. This diiference in diameters provides annular spaces 3b between the outer surface of the lwide portion 27 of valve stem element 26 and the inner surface of ribbed portion 22 of stem guide member 18.

Rod-like valve closure element 31 is secured to constricted portion 28 of valve stem element 26 so as to provide a substantially coaxial extension thereof. One form of securement is shown in Figure 2 wherein valve closure element 31 is press-fitted in a cylindrical hole in the constricted portion 28 of valve stem element 26. The closure element 31 can thus be of a different material than the valve stem element 26. In the preferred embodiment both the stem guide member 18 and the valve stem element 26 are plastics, being alathon and nylon respectively, while the closure element 31 is a metal. An obvious advantage of a metal closure element is that it will be more resistant to wear caused by frequent seating. These materials have been found to form a very satisfactory valve. able materials can be used.

The bottom 32 of the liquid soap receptacle 12 is provided with a circular-shaped opening or passageway 15 leading to lathering chamber 13. The upper rim 33 of passageway 15 forms a valve seat.

Valve closure element 31 is provided with a needle valve adapted to seat against rim 33 so as to seal passageway 15 against flow of liquid soap. The constricted portion 28 of the valve stem element 26 is of such a length with relation to the constricted portion 23 of stem guide member 1 8 that upon seating of the valve closure element 31 on valve seat or rim 33 of passageway 15, portions of the constricted portion 28 of the valve stem element 26 extend above and below the constricted por- However, any other suittion23 of stern "guide member 18. The extension of the constricted portion 23 of the valve -stem element 26 above the constricted portion 23 of stem guide member 18 provides an annular space 34, the height of which i's determined by the transverse shouldersv24 and 29 of the stem guide member 18 and the valve'stem element l26, respectively.

Cover member 35 is removably secured to housing-11 by bolts 36 extending through openings 37 therein 'and are threadably received into threaded openings 3'8 in housingll. Cover member 35 is providedwith inset portion 39'adap`t'ed to receive ange'20 'of stern guide element 1S. Stem guide element 13 is held removably locked in position by the cooperation of eovermember 35i, housing 11, and sidewall 41) 'of yliquid's'oap receptable-12. p l l Located on and integral with the surface of cover member-'35 internal to valve 16, 'and in the axisl of cylin-I drical valve stem'element26, is conical spring centering protr-'sion 41. Extending between cover member'35 and transverse shoulder 29 of valve stem element 2'6-is coiled spring 42. The yend of coiled spring 42 bearing against cover 'member 35 is concentric to conical ,spring'cntering protrusion 41. i

Integral with valve stem 'element 26 isltop annular ange43. Top iiange 21 offst'em'guide .member 18 is provided with an upstanding rib 44. Rockingly mounted on rib 44 yis lever member 45. Operating arm 46 of lever member 45 bears against the lower surface of topfflange 43 yof valve sternelement`26. The power leverv arm 47 of lever member' 45 bears against finger piece or plunger 48. 'Plunger 48 is slidably mounted in top opening 49 of coverrnember 35.

In the preferred embodiment, lever member 45 has a pair of powery arms 47 bearing against opposit'ely situated portions of the bottom periphery of hollow cylindricaliplunger 48. Web portion 50 extending between power arms 47 is restricted so as not to extend across the liollowed out portion 51 of plunger 48. Thus, an extensionmember (not shown) may be inserted into the hollowed out portion 51 of plunger 4S to operate a switch (not shown) on motor 17.

In operation, whenever lather is desired, plunger 48 is manually depressed. By means of the aforementioned extension (not shown), a switch (also not shown) on motor 17 will be turned on, causingV the lathering screw mechanism (not shown) in lathering chamber 13 to operate. 'At the same time, the depression of plunger 43 exerts pressure against power lever arms 47 ofl lever member 45,"c`:ausing the lever member to rotate about up's'tanding rib `44 which acts as a fulcrum. By this action theoperating arm 46 of lever member 45 lis rotated'upwardly, applying pressure against the lower sui'- facel of'top flange 43 of Valve stem element 26. The pressure against ange 43 causes the entire valve stemto rise, overcoming the pressure exerted by coiled spring 42 and compressing thespring, thereby raising valve closure element 31. As valve closure element 31 is raised, passageway 15 'is opened and liquid soap can flow from the `liquid *soap receptacle 12 into the latherngchamber 13 from which it is expelled through lather outlet 14.

`Upon opening the valve, the sliding t between the external surface of constricted portion 28 of valve stem elementf26and the internal surface of constr-icted` portion-23 of 'stem guide member 18 permits the inner surface "and especially the external lip` of the constricted portion 23 of stem guide member 18 to shear -or Wipe o `vany liquid soap particles that might adhere to constrict'edportion 28. Should any soap particles manage to pass this sliding tolerance they would accumulate space 34 -above shoulder 24 and still not prevent operation ofthe valve. Further kaccumulation of soap above shoulderv 24 would ll annular'spaces`30` between the wider portions of valve'stem element '26 and-stem' guide member*18,'"whicli still `would -fn'ot impair" operation'of the valve. However, should extensive accumulation of soap occur as indicated above, the valve can be cleaned readily by removing bolts 36 and lifting out the entire valve.

Upon release of manual pressure from plunger 48, lever member 45 no longer exerts pressure against top ange 43 of valve stem member 26, so that compressed spring 42 can expand and force valve lstem element 26 downwardly, seating valve closure element Y31 against valve seat 33, thereby sealing passageway 15 against further tlow of liquid soap. l

While I have kshown and described -a Lcertain lembodiment of .my invention, it is tobe understood that it is capable of many modications, changes, therefore, in the construction and' arrangement may be'made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a lather producing machine havinga 'liquid soap receptacle and a passageway capable of serving as fluid outlet means, avalve seat positioned in said receptacle communicating with said passageway, and a valve lassembly positioned in said receptacle in opposed, spaced relationship to said valve seat, said assembly comprising an elongated tubular valve stem guide, an elongated valve stem slidably mounted in said guide, a valve closure element secured to one end of said valve stem capable of extending beyond the contines of -said guide and being seal'ably seated in saidvalve seat, an elongated tubular cavity formed at lthe otherend of said valve stem, resilient means :positioned in said cavity servingk to urge said lv'a-lve closure -into sealing relationship with said valve seat, ypivotal Ameans operatively associated with said guide for selectively sliding said valve stem and valve closure element away from said valve seat thus enabling said valve stem to compress said 'resilient means and unseat said valve closure element.

2. In a lather producing machine having a liquid soap receptacle' and a passageway capable of serving 'asfl'uid outlet means, a valve vseat positioned in said receptacle communicating with said passageway, and a valve assembly positioned in said receptacle in opposed, spaced relationshipto said valve seat, said assembly comprising an elongated tubular valve stern guide, an elongated valve stem slidably mountedin said guide, a valve closure-eler'n'ent secured to one end ofi said valve stem capable of extending v'beyond the contines of said guideL and being sealablyseated in'said valve seat, van elongated tubular eavit'y formed at the other'end of saidvalve stem, resilient means positioned in' said'cavity serving to urge said valveV closure into sealing relationship with said valve seat, saidresilient means being retained in said cavityiby s'top^rne`ans, 'pivotal means operatively associated with said'gu'ide for-selectively sliding said valve stem and valve closure-element away from said valveseatthus lenabling said" valve stern to compress said resilient means and unseat-said valve 'closure element.

' 3.-A1fluid control device comprising: -a vreceptacle halving` apassageway lcapable of serving as uid outlet means, a valve seat-positioned in said receptacle communicating Withsaid passageway, and a valve 'assembly positioned'in 'said-receptacle-in opposed, spaced rel-ationship-torvsaid valvefseat, said assembly I'comprising an'elon'gated tubular valve stem guide having a plurality of internal longitudinal-ribs extending therein, yan elongated valve stern slidably'rnounred in said guide so that'said ribs friction'all'y contact said valve stem, a valve closure element Asecured to sone end of said valve stem'capable of extending beyond the confines of said guide and being sealably seatedin said valve seat, an elongated tubular cavity formed at the other end. 'of rsaid valve stem, resilient means positioned. in said Vcavity serving toA urgesaid valvev closure 'into sealing. .relationship with said valve seat, .pivotal v means operatively associated with lsaid guideY for selecltivelyl sliding said valve stem and valve closure element away from said valve seat thus enabling said valve stem to compress said resilient means and unseat said valve closure element.

4. A iluid control device comprising: a receptacle having a passageway capable of serving as fluid outlet means, a valve seat positioned in said receptacle communicating with said passageway, and a valve assembly positioned in said receptacle in opposed, spaced relationship to said valve seat, said assembly comprising an elongated tubular valve stem guide having a constricted portion at one end, an elongated valve stem slidably mounted in said guide, a valve closure element secured to one end of said valve stem capable of extending beyond the confines of said guide and being sealably seated in said valve seat, said valve stem being shaped so as to frictionally engage the constricted portion of the guide at all times, an elongated tubular cavity formed at the other end of said valve stem, resilient means positioned in said cavity serving to urge said valve closure into sealing relationship with said valve seat, pivotal means operatively associated with said guide for selectively sliding said valve stem and valve closure element away from said valve seat thus enabling said valve stem to compress said resilient means and unseat said valve closure element.

5. In a lather producing machine having a liquid soap receptacle and a discharge passageway, said passageway forming a valve seat, a valve in said passageway comprising a valve closure element, means for seating and unseating the valve closure element, a valve stem between the valve closure element and said seating and unseating means, said valve stem comprising a cylindrical element having wide and constricted portions, a stem guide member removably mounted in said soap receptacle, said stem guide member comprising a tube having wide and constricted portions, said stem member being slidably received in said guide member, a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs integral with the wide portions of said guide, the external diameters of the wide and constricted portions of the valve stem being substantially the same as the internal diameters of the ribbed and constricted portions, respectively, of the stem guide member, and wherein the constricted portions of the stem guide member and valve stem are adjacent the valve closure member.

6. A valve of the character described in claim 5 wherein the constricted portion of the valve stem is of such a length with relation to the length of the constricted portion of the stem guide member that upon seating of the valve closure member, portions of the constricted portion of the valve stem extend above and below the constricted portion of the stem guide member whereby accumulation of liquid soap within and above the constricted portion of the stem guide member will not prevent the valve from being seated.

7. In a lather producing machine having a liquid soap receptacle and a discharge passageway, said passageway forming a valve seat, a removable valve in said passageway comprising a valve closure member, valve stem adjacent said valve closure member, the end of said valve stem remote from the said valve closure having a peripheral llange, a cover member removably secured to said lather producing machine, a stem guide member adjacent said cover member, wherein the valve stem is slidably received in the said stem guide member and the said cover member, a spring member between said valve stem and said cover member for urging said Valve stem and valve closure member against the valve seat, and a lever member pivotably mounted on said stem guide member and within said cover member wherein one lever arm is adapted to bear against the peripheral flange of said valve stem to oppose the urging action of said spring and the other lever arm is adapted to receive externally applied pressure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 478,949 Beery July 12, 1892 1,327,156 Hanes Jan. 6, 1920 1,527,714 Tarrant Feb. 24, 1925 2,052,569 Jensen Sept. 1, 1936 2,067,601 Dobkin Ian. 12, 1937 2,073,076 Smith Mar. 9, 1937 2,139,735 Dobkin Dec. 13, 1938 

